Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Absolutely

Absolutely. We encourage all site visits before purchase — no deposit or obligation required. Just reach out and we'll arrange access at a time that works for you. Visiting the claim allows you to assess road access, terrain, and sampling potential before making a decision.

There is no deposit required, no forms to fill out, and no obligation whatsoever. Simply contact us to let us know you'd like to visit and we'll arrange access at a time that works for you.

🗺 We Provide GPS & Maps — Every listing includes GPS coordinates and a Google Earth KMZ file so you can navigate directly to the claim boundaries. No guesswork finding the site.

We handle all filing on your behalf. Here's the typical timeline:

• Day 1-10: We draft and notarize your quitclaim deed
• Day 10-14: We file with the BLM and county recorder
• Day 14-45: Officially stamped copies arrive from the county and BLM

Within 2–3 weeks, the claim will show as ACTIVE in your name in the BLM's LR2000 system and county records.

✓ Yes

Yes — under contract you'll receive a temporary conveyance of mineral rights that allows for sampling, recreational use, and casual operations while you pay it off. This means you can start exploring and even doing small-scale work while completing your payments.

You don't have to wait until the claim is fully paid to start prospecting. Many buyers are out there working their ground within days of making their first payment.

✓ Yes

Yes. Most western states — including California, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon — allow up to 14 days of camping per stay on public lands where your claim is located. Some claims have excellent level camp sites with shade and water access. Check your specific claim details for camping information.

No special permit is required for casual camping within these limits. After 14 days in one location, simply move at least 25 miles away before returning. Many claim owners spend weeks each season camping and prospecting on their claims.

Annual Filing

Annual BLM maintenance fees are due on or before September 1st of each year. The standard fee is $200 per claim (placer claims pay $200 per 20 acres). If you hold 10 or fewer claims nationwide, you can file a Small Miner's Waiver instead of paying that fee — it requires $100 of assessment work per claim, a waiver certification filed by September 1st, and an affidavit of labor filed by December 30th ($15 per claim processing fee). We're happy to walk you through the renewal process after purchase at no charge.

Missing the September 1st deadline results in automatic forfeiture — mark your calendar!

Visit the BLM Fees page for current details, or contact us if you need help with your renewal.

⚠️ Mark September 1st in Your Calendar — This deadline cannot be extended or appealed. Set a recurring annual reminder — we recommend paying in late July to avoid any processing delays.

Lode claims are on hard-rock mineral deposits — ore embedded in solid rock, typically gold, silver, or copper in quartz veins or fault zones. These require crushing, milling, or direct mining of the host rock.

Placer claims are on alluvial or unconsolidated deposits — gold or other minerals that have been eroded from their host rock and concentrated in stream gravels, bench gravels, or ancient streambeds. These can often be worked with simpler equipment like sluices, pans, and dry washers.

Unpatented claims are the most common type. The US government retains surface title, but you hold exclusive mineral rights and the right to mine commercially. You must pay annual BLM assessment fees to maintain the claim.

Patented claims are historical claims where the claimant holds full fee-simple title to both surface and mineral rights — essentially private property on what was once federal land. No new patents have been issued since 1994, making them rare and valuable. No BLM fees are required, and you can build permanent structures.

The standard annual BLM maintenance fee is $200 per claim (placer claims pay $200 per 20 acres), due on or before September 1st each year. If you hold 10 or fewer claims nationwide, you qualify for the Small Miner's Waiver instead of paying that fee — it requires $100 of assessment work per claim, a waiver certification filed by September 1st, and an affidavit of labor filed by December 30th ($15 per claim processing fee).

Some counties also require a notarized Notice of Intent to Hold before the end of the calendar year (first year only). Contact your county recorder's office for specific requirements.

✗ No — Temporary Only

No. Only temporary structures are allowed on an unpatented mining claim — the government retains surface rights, so permanent structures aren't permitted.

You can erect temporary shelters, equipment sheds, processing facilities, and other structures directly tied to mining activity — as long as they could reasonably be removed. Many operators use canvas wall tents, portable cabins, and shipping container workshops without issue.

💡 Patented Claims Are Different — If you own a patented mining claim (full fee-simple title to both surface and mineral rights), you can build permanently. Patented claims are extremely rare and far more valuable — see our Golden West Property in Arizona as an example.

Indefinitely

As long as you continue paying your yearly assessments to the Bureau of Land Management, you can keep your claim virtually forever. Some mining claims are over 120 years old and have been passed down from generation to generation.

Since a mining claim is a tradable asset — like a deed to a property — its value can increase significantly as precious metal prices rise. Many claimants have eventually sold their holdings to mining companies for substantial profits.

Full Package

After purchase, a quitclaim deed is filed on your behalf with the appropriate organizations to confer official mineral rights and claim ownership to you. You'll also receive an official Map of Location, an official Certificate of Location, a Google Earth™ KMZ file with your claim's boundaries, corners, and discovery monument, and a new-owner packet with helpful mining resources.

Included with Every Purchase

• Official Certificate of Location — the original claim location document
• Official Map of Location — legally accurate survey map
• Google Earth™ KMZ File — claim boundaries, corners & discovery monument
• New Owner Information Pack — resources, maintenance guide, and tips
• Quitclaim Deed Transfer — filed with county recorder & BLM within 45 days
• Email Support — ongoing assistance with claim maintenance questions

✓ Yes

Yes. A mining claim is real property and can be passed down through an estate, gifted, sold, leased to a mining operator, or used as collateral — just like a deed to land. Many families have held and worked the same claims across multiple generations.

To transfer a mining claim to heirs, a new quitclaim deed is recorded with the county and BLM. As long as annual assessments remain current, the claim continues indefinitely regardless of who holds it.

Owner Financing

We offer owner financing on most of our claims: 25% down, 10% fixed interest, and 12 equal monthly payments. No credit checks required. See our Financing Terms page for full details.

Financing runs directly through Mountain Man Mining — no bank involved, no credit check required. A 25% deposit secures the claim and the remaining balance is paid in equal monthly installments over up to 12 months. PayPal Pay Later is also available at checkout as an alternative financing option.

⚡ Owner Financing — Terms at a Glance

• Down Payment — 25% of purchase price
• Term Length — Up to 12 months
• Credit Check — Not required
• Prepayment Penalty — None
• Mining While Financing — Allowed (temp. conveyance)
• PayPal Pay Later — Available at checkout

Financing available on most listings. Contact us to discuss a specific property.

We require a 25% deposit on all financed purchases of mining claims.

✗ Not Currently

Not at this time. However, financing a claim is an affordable way to get your foot in the door and start working toward ownership.

Our owner financing program achieves a similar outcome at low entry cost — 25% down gets you on the ground with full mining rights, and monthly payments are often surprisingly affordable on lower-priced listings.

For a claim priced at $6,500 (like the Ayers Claim), a 25% deposit is just $1,625 — less than a weekend at a hotel.

We accept credit and debit cards, wire transfer, and check or money order. Please contact us for additional payment options.

Accepted Payment Methods

• Credit / Debit Cards — Accepted
• Wire Transfer — Accepted
• Check / Money Orders — Accepted
• PayPal — Accepted
• PayPal Pay Later — Financing
• Owner Financing — Available